Circulating fan



Feb. 11, 1941. A; GOLDENBERG CIRCULATING FAN Filed July 20, 1959 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 11, 1941 UNITED STATE OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to circulating fans. It is particularly directed to circulating fans which automatically rotate continuously as the fan operates, whereby to circulate the air all around;

An object of this invention is to provide an electrically operated fan mounted on an arm and continuously adapted to rotate automatically, means being provided to retain the fan against rotation while in operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a compact, rugged and durable fan of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, positive in action, and practical and efiicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which Will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a table fan embodying the invention, with parts broken away and in cross-section;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the improved fan shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational, cross-sectional view through a part of the fan supporting structure;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, l9 designates a fan embodying the invention, here shown for the purpose of illustration only as a table fan, it being understood that the invention may be embodied in wall fans, ceiling fans or pedestal fans. The fan l0 comprises a base II, to which is fixed an upstanding tubular member 12, the tubular member I2 is formed adjacent its lower end, with an L-shaped bayonet slot l3 having a vertical portion I4 and a substantially horizontal portion I5.

Slidably mounted on the tubular member i2 is a sleeve I6, having at its upper end an inwardly extending annular flange I'l. Fixed to the tube I2 is a collar 18 received within the sleeve I6. Interposed between the collar l8 and the flange l1, and disposed within the sleeve, is a coil compression spring [9. Fixed to the sleeves I6 is a radial pin 20, projecting through the bayonet slot l3, into the interior of the tube 2, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

The upper end of the tube I2 is open, and fixed on the inside of the upper end thereof, is a collar 24. Extending through the tube 12, and passing upwardly through the collar 24, is an inner tube 25 supported at its lower end by a thrust bearing 26, at the lower end of the tube l2.

Fixed to the inner tube 25 and surrounding the same, is an annular collar 28, having a plurality of angularly spaced grooves 29. The spring l9 normally pushes the sleeve I 3 upwardly to maintain the pin 29 at the upper end of the vertical portion Id of the bayonet slot. In such position; the pin 20 is above the collar 28 and the tube 25 is hence free to rotate.

Rotation of tube 25 may be stopped, however, by pushing down the sleeve l6, so that the pin 20 enters one of the grooves 29. The sleeve l6 may then be rotated to bring the pin 20 into the portion l5 of the bayonet slot 13, and in such position, the tube 25 will not rotate. The tube may again be released for rotation by manipulating the sleeve 16 to again bring the pin 20 into the vertical portion of the bayonet slot I3.

Mounted on the upper end of tube 25 is a member 39 having a central vertical tubular portion 3| screwed to the tube 25. Interposed between portion 3| of member 39 and the collar 24, is a thrust ball bearing 32. The upper end of tubular portion 3| is open and may be closed by a screw plug 34. Extending outwardly from portion 3|, in opposite directions, are aligned, horizontal tubular portions 35 and 36.

Fixed to the tubular portion 35 is a fan motor 31 supporting the blades 38 of the fan. Fixed to the motor is the wire guard or keeper 39. Mounted on the tubular member 36 is an adjustable counter-weight 40.

Attached to the motor are wires 42 and 43 passing through the tubular member 35, and downwardly through the tube 25. Mounted on tube 25, and fixed thereto, is an insulating sleeve 41. Mounted on the insulating sleeve are a pair of collector rings 48 and 49. The wire 42 is connected to the collector ring 48, whereas, the wire 43 is connected to the collector ring 49.

The tubular member I2 is formed with a flanged opening 59, in which is mounted an insulating plug 5!, carrying a pair of spring pressed brushes 53 and 54, contacting the collector rings 48 and 49, respectively. The brushes 53 and 54 are mounted on the terminals connected to any ably mounted within the outer tube and provided suitable wire 60, which may be connected to a suitable source of power supply, and provided with a switch 6|.

It will now be understood that when the current is turned down, the fan will rotate, and the pressure of the air will cause the member 30 to rotate about the axis of tube 25. The current passes to the motor through the brushes 53 and 54, collector rings 48 and 49 and wires 42 and 43.

Although the drawing shows a table fan, it will be understood that the invention may be applied as well for wall fans, ceiling fans or pedestal fans. If required another fan may be mounted on the tubular member 36 to replace the counter-weight 40. Such second fan may be mounted about a vertical axis if desired. If it is desired that the fan should not rotate about the axis of the tube 25, the sleeve is merely pushed down and then rotated to bring the pin 20 into the portion [:5 of the bayonet slot.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A fan comprising a vertical outer tube provided with a pair of brushes, an inner tube rotatwith a pair of collector rings, insulated therefrom,

and contacted by said brushes, a horizontal tubular arm on said inner tube, a fan on said horizontal arm, and wires connected to the motor of the fan and passing through the horizontal arm and inner tube, and being connected to the collector rings, means on said outer tube to prevent rotation of the inner tube, said means comprising a sleeve slidably mounted on the outer tube, said outer tube being formed a bayonet slot, a pin on said sleeve projecting through said bayonet slot, and a collar fixed to the inner tube and surrounding the same, and formed with a plurality of equiangularly spaced grooves adapted to selectively receive the pin on the sleeve.

2. A fan comprising a base, a tubular member mounted thereon and extending upwardly therefrom, an inner tubular member rotatably mounted within the outer tubular member, a thrust bearing within said outer tube to support the lower end of the inner tube, a horizontal member fixed to the upper end of the inner tube, a thrust hearing interposed between the upper end of the outer tube and said horizontal member, an electric fan mounted on said horizontal member, a pair of collector rings mounted on the inner tube, and insulated therefrom, wires connecting the motor of the fan to said collector rings, a pair of spring pressed brushes mounted on the inner tube, and insulated therefrom, and contacting said collector rings, a collar fixed to the inner tube and surrounding the same, and formed with equiangularly spaced grooves, a sleeve surrounding the outer tube and having an inwardly extending annular flange at its upper end, a collar surrounding said outer tube and fixed thereto and received within said sleeve, a coil compression spring interposed between said last mentioned collar and the flange on said sleeve, said outer tube being formed with a bayonet slot, and a radial pin on said sleeve projecting through said slot, said spring normally retaining said pin in the vertical portion of the'bayonet slot and above the collar on the inner tube, said pin being adapted to engage within one of the grooves in the collar on the inner tube, when the sleeve is pushed down against said spring.

ALFRED GOLDENBER-G. 

